Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

Bird Boy

I'll admit it. Having a boy for the first time in the Spring made me nervous. The other girls felt the same way. A few of them actually tried to get him banished when he came up. Thankfully, most of us had common sense and voted no. I was obviously the first one with my hand up.

After a few months everyone got over themselves. Now he's an official Icer with friends, a job, and everything else. There's just one thing about him that bugged me.

I ended up liking him. Like really liking him. Not as a friend either. It still kills me to think about, but I definitely have a crush on him. This clearly has never happened before so I didn't have a clue what to do. It was just getting so frustrating to trip over my words in front of him. There's no way he didn't notice because I used to be able to speak just fine in front of him.

I did figure out one thing that helped. The problem gets worse everytime I say his name. So when I saw a little blue bird that had somehow made it to this place and survived where it shouldn't I figured out exactly what to do. This little blue bird was a miracle, and as dramatic as it seems so was he. Now I call him bird boy. It works wonders, but he was so confused. I couldn't make myself tell him why so I left him with that mystery.

Bird boy is now my affectionate nickname for him. Eventually, he stopped questioning it and accepted that this was all I would call him. Once again, it was something of appreciation with a lovely backstory. Unfortunately, not everyone got the memo.

"Hey bird boy. Move before I make you,"Beth snapped. I didn't know why he was in the Builder's space nor did I care. Because not only did she call him my special nickname she said it with malice. That's not what it's supposed to be at all.

"Shut up Beth. No one has time for your attitude,"I said through gritted teeth.

"Why? You think I want to call this idiot his name? I'd rather not dirty up my mouth."

I looked at Aris who was shifting uncomfortably in his spot. I ignored that for now and turned my attention back to Beth.

"Don't you dare insult him, don't you dare speak to him in that tone, and don't you ever call him that again. In fact, if you so much as look at him the wrong way I'll make you wish you were never born."

"Is that a threat?"She asked with an amused smirk. I quickly got a few inches away so only she could hear.

"No. It's a promise."

"What are you going to do? Are you going to fight me?"She asked loudly.

"I don't need to fight to make you scared. Unlike you I'm not a pathetic bully who needs my fists. Just remember who's in charge of the food. I'll make sure every meal you get is a mere sliver, and I'll make sure it's the kind of table scraps not even fit for a dog. Do you understand?"

For the first time here she looked genuinely scared. She knew I controlled the food, and she knew I would go through with my words.

"Whatever. Keep standing up for bir-Aris,"She corrected.

"Don't you worry. I'll make sure to do just that."

♡ Time Skip♡

Almost everyone had gone to bed. I didn't care to see who hadn't as I leaned against a log. I purposely stayed away from everyone else. Right now I just wanted some peace and quiet under the stars.

"Hey Y/N,"Aris greeted, taking a seat next to me. You know what? Screw my earlier statement.

"Hey. What are you doing here?"I asked in an inviting tone.

"Everyone else is asleep, and you're not so now I'm here,"He shrugged. There was something that seemed a bit different about his words. I can't explain it, but it sounds like there's more he wants to say.

"Earlier today. I don't think I've ever seen you that mad before. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did that bother you so much? She's rude to everyone here. You barely react when she says something to you so why did you care so much today?"

"I didn't like how she was talking about you,"I mumbled. That was true, but there was another thing there. Judging by the look on his face he knew it.

"You never tell me, but I may as well ask again. How come you insist on calling me that? You don't give anyone else nicknames."

There was a lot I could say to that. I could also do what I always do and brush him off. Still, the fact that it's just us right now, and we're sitting side by side on a nice night made the question feel different.

"There was a blue bird here one day. Somehow it did the impossible and was living a wonderful life trapped behind walls. It was a rare sight, maybe the only one. Yet it still looked like it always belonged here. It reminded me of you."

"Because I'm the only boy?"He inquired.

"No. Because you're special. You're both living proof that the worst place can bring something you never knew you needed. Plus, the blue kind of matched your eyes."

"That wasn't what I expected,"He stated quietly.

"Is that a bad thing?"I asked nervously.

"No. It's the nicest thing I've ever heard."

I hesitated before moving my hand to his.  He didn't ask what I was doing. Instead, he seemed to have the same idea as he intertwined our fingers. We sat like that until sunrise. It seemed like that in that moment the world was just him and I. If I'm being honest I wouldn't mind that one bit.